Downtown library

I am horrified by Paula P. Durrant’s suggestion that the Bangor Public Library move out of downtown and become another drop in the endless stream of bland, impersonal, suburban sprawl (“New, improved library,” Op-ed column, Jan. 24). Yes, the building has problems, and yes, once in a while parking is a challenge. But the solutions are money to repair the building and increase the staff, and a little creativity on the part of patrons, such as walking, riding a bus to the vicinity, or parking a few more blocks away.

In this age of endless mall-style development, when Bangor is still suffering from its loss of downtown anchor stores, the drain of Wal-Mart and the recent closing of the Third Street Shop ‘n Save, to lose our wonderful library would sound a death knell — in spirit if not in actuality — to downtown Bangor. The building itself is significant, designed by Peabody and Stearns, one of the country’s premier architectural firms of their era. Could that — or would that — be duplicated in a new construction?

More important to me, and to others I hope, is the feeling of warmth and friendliness and history, on a human scale, that this old library engenders. I love the dark wooden bookcases and signs, the worn benches, the feeling of the place as a gathering spot for four or five generations of readers. A move to Hogan Road, or its equivalent, would obliterate this core of our community, would all but eliminate pedestrian traffic to it, and would be a further abandonment of our downtown, especially at a time when so many are lamenting the “malling” of America, Maine included. If we lose the character of our downtown, we will have lost our sense of place, and might as well be in suburban Washington, D.C., Los Angeles or South Portland.

So, patrons of the Bangor Public Library, let’s raise money and show our dedication, as Ms. Durrant suggests, but let’s use that money for what is now our library, not some vague notion of asphalt and glass. Stephanie L. Riker Bangor